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Thursday, 12 July 2018

The US warns of sanctions to anyone who helps or allows Iranian airline to land

In a move reminiscent of a dictatorship rather than a global nation, the US is warning of sanctions against any company or country that assist in any way an Iranian airline or allow it into their country, including its allies in Europe.

The US Government has instigated sanctions on a travel and ticketing agency in Malaysia that has been providing ticketing and reservations services for Iranian carrier Mahan Air for over five years. The company, Mahan Travel and Tourism, has now had all its property, interests and investments in the USA's jurisdiction blocked. And, according to the US Treasury, that jurisdiction is pretty vast and "this is only just the start, this action against is a warning shot, There is definitely more to come." warned Marshall Billingslea of the US Treasury.

Mahan Air has a mixed fleet of mostly Airbus aircraft, including A340's and A300's and operates many routes, including over 40 international destinations this year. The US Treasury released a route map of what it says are places Mahan Air has served including destinations in Afghanistan, Bulgaria, China, Germany, India, Italy, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Thailand, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

"All of them are of great concern to us," Marshall Billingslea told select media organisations, asserting that routes into Europe were "highly problematic"

According to Marshal Billingslea, the US is determined that Mahan Air flights into countries allied with the USA will be "terminated" which they will do either by economic means or through action by governments or airports. The US could and would impose sanctions on European countries, airports, suppliers and government, "Any company that continues to transact with Mahan [Air] is doing so at great financial risk," the Marshal briefed trade publication FlightGlobal. Warning that the US government knows the airports, the fuel, maintenance, cargo and catering services that are used by Mahan Air and all are at risk of sanctions and similar blocks to those imposed on the Malaysian travel services provider. "Companies, particularly Western companies operating in NATO nations, need to protect themselves and shut down their business ties" Bilingslea warned.

The US Government says that Mahan Air has carried personnel and supplies for groups like Hezbollah and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force. The airline has also transported personnel and weapons to Syria claims the US Treasury, yet has so far refused to provide or share its intelligence and any independent corroborating evidence.

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Meet the team

Jason Shaw.

Jason Shaw's love of the aviation industry started at a young age when he used to watch the whirlybirds of Bristow Helicopters coming and going from the garden of his Surrey childhood home. Since those days he's worked in a number of key areas within the aviation industry from airlines, travel agents, holiday companies and product selection to reporting on it for local radio and making video travel brochures.

Jason is also an experienced broadcaster, having presented on radio, television, corporate videos and video travel brochures. He's an avid writer and written a number of books, articles, features and reports. He also loves to travel and his favourite destinations include Port Douglas, Singapore and Copenhagen.

Joshua Jordan.

Josh loves to travel and has a passionate interest in the airline industry. He's worked in both travel and the media for a number of years. His voice can often be heard on Internet-based radio stations as well and the odd commercial! The destination he calls his favourite is - New York.

Adam Shaw

Adam is the youngest member of the team, no relation to Jason and like the rest of the team, he has a keen interest in airlines, aircraft and aviation. His favourite destination is Prague and has just started taking flying lessons.